Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut v. Newlin

District Court, S.D. California·Decided April 2, 2021·No. 3:20-cv-00765·Unknown

Opinion

TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY Case No.: 20cv765-GPC(DEB) OF CONNECTICUT, ORDER GRANTING TRAVELERS’ Plaintiff, MOTION TO DISMISS THE v. AMENDED COUNTERCLAIM BY THE NEWLINS AND DENYING ANTHONY and BLYTHE NEWLIN, as TRAVELERS’ MOTION TO individuals; QUADE & ASSOCIATES, DISMISS THE AMENDED PLC, a California professional liability COUNTERCLAIM BY QUADE company; AIG PROPERTY CASUALTY COMPANY, a Pennsylvania corporation, [Dkt. Nos. 85, 86.] and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, Defendants and Related Counterclaims and Third- Party Complaints.

Before the Court are Plaintiff and Counterdefendant Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut’s (“Travelers”) motions to dismiss the amended counterclaims filed by Anthony and Blythe Newlin (the “Newlins”), and Quade & Associates, PLC (“Quade”) pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (“Rule”) 12(b)(6). (Dkt. Nos. 85, 86.) The Newlins and Quade jointly filed an opposition. (Dkt. No. 90.) Travelers filed a reply to the joint opposition. (Dkt. No. 94.) The Court finds that the matter is appropriate for decision without oral argument pursuant to Local Civ. R. 7.1(d)(1). Based on the reasoning below, the Court GRANTS Travelers’ motion to dismiss the Newlins’ amended counterclaim without leave to amend and DENIES Travelers’ motion to dismiss Quade’s amended counterclaim. Procedural Background On April 22, 2020, Plaintiff Travelers filed a complaint alleging counts for declaratory relief against Defendants the Newlins, Quade and AIG Property Casual Company, (“AIG”), as well as a breach of contract claim against the Newlins seeking to clarify its defense and indemnity obligations to the Newlins, Quade and AIG arising from an underlying state court complaint in San Diego County Superior Court, Case No. 37- 2017-00006963-CU-OR-NC entitled Hamadeh et al. v. Newlins, et al., (“Hamadeh Litigation”). (Dkt. No. 1, Compl.) A first amended complaint (“FAC”) was filed on May 1, 2020 alleging the same claims. (Dkt. No. 5, FAC.) On June 11, 2020, the Newlins and Quade filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) and Rule 12(b)(6), (Dkt. No. 15), and AIG filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1). (Dkt. No. 13.) After full briefing on the motions, on September 14, 2020, the Court granted the Newlins’ motion to dismiss the breach of contract claims under Rule 12(b)(6) and granted all Defendants’ motions to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1) with leave to amend. (Dkt. No. 55.) On September 24, 2020, Travelers filed a second amended complaint (“SAC”). (Dkt. No. 56.) On October 13, 2020, the Newlins, Quade and AIG filed motions to dismiss. (Dkt. Nos. 66, 67.) On January 13, 2021, after full briefing by the parties, the Court granted the Newlins, Quade and AIG’s motions to dismiss the second amended complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(1). (Dkt. No. 93.) On June 11, 2020, the Newlins, AIG and Quade each separately filed a counterclaim against Travelers and each separately filed a third-party complaint against CCL Contracting, Inc. (“CCL”), (collectively “counterclaim/TPC”). (Dkt. Nos. 14, 16, 17.) While Travelers filed an answer to AIG’s counterclaim, (Dkt. No. 31), it filed motions to dismiss the Newlins and Quade’s counterclaims which the Court granted on November 2, 2020 with leave to amend. (Dkt. Nos. 32, 33, 46, 49, 73.) In that order, the Court also denied CCL’s motions to dismiss the third-party complaints filed by the Newlins, AIG and Quade. (Dkt. Nos. 50, 51, 52, 58, 59, 60, 70, 73.) The Newlins and Quade filed their first amended counterclaims against Travelers on November 20, 2020. (Dkt. No. 81, 82.) The Newlins’ amended counterclaim allege two causes of action against Travelers for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. (Dkt. No. 81, Newlins’ Am. Counterclaim/TPC.) Quade’s amended counterclaim assert two causes of action for breach of contract and indemnity, equitable subrogation, waiver/estoppel against Travelers. (Dkt. No. 81, Quade’s Am. Counterclaim/TPC.) Travelers filed the instant motions to dismiss all claims in the Newlins and Quade’s amended counterclaims pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) which is fully briefed. (Dkt. Nos. 85, 86, 90, 94.) Factual Background According to the Newlins’ amended counterclaim, the Newlins were the owners of real property located at 16350 Via Del Alba, Rancho Santa Fe, California 92067 (“Property”) from late 2012 until February 2015. (Dkt. No. 81, Newlins’ Am. Counterclaim/TPC ¶¶ 1, 8.) During that time, the Newlins remodeled, repaired and/or modified two residences on the property as well as made repairs and improvements to the landscape, hardscape and irrigation system. (Id. ¶ 8.) In addition, CCL was contracted by the Santa Fe Irrigation District to perform certain work on the water infrastructure on the property and to move/install a new fire hydrant and to perform certain related site work. (Id.) Around October 18, 2013, CCL submitted a bid to the Santa Fe Irrigation District for the “Group 2 Pipelines Project (J-1202)” which included work to be performed on the Property while the Newlins were the owners. (Id. ¶¶ 16-18.) CCL was awarded the contract and on December 2, 2013, CCL signed the Santa Fe Irrigation District Contract. (Id. ¶ 18.) The Santa Fe Irrigation District Contract required CCL to procure certain insurance. (Id. ¶¶ 19-21.) As such, CCL purchased Commercial General Liability policies of insurance from Travelers for dates of coverage from April 1, 2014 – April 1, 2018 (“CCL Policies”). (Id. ¶ 29.) Per the Santa Fe Irrigation District Contract, CCL named the Newlins as additional insureds on the CCL Policies. (Id. ¶¶ 21, 31.) The Contract required CCL to “defend . . . indemnify and hold District, its officials, officers, agents, employees, owners of property upon which Contractor will perform Work . . .free and harmless from any claims . . . arising out of or incident to any acts, omissions or willful misconduct of Contractor . . .” (Id. ¶ 22.) Per the Santa Fe Irrigation District project, the Newlins entered into an “Agreement Regarding Modifications to Property Owner’s Water Facilities” (“Property Owner Contract”) with the Santa Fe Irrigation District around October 8, 2013 concerning certain work on the water infrastructure systems that was located on the property. (Id. ¶ 24.) The Property Owner Contract also stated that CCL was to defend and hold harmless any claims arising out of the acts, omission or willful misconduct of the contractor. (Id. ¶ 26.) Around April 2014, CCL submitted a change order, approved by the Santa Fe Irrigation District, to relocate the fire hydrant to the end of the cul-de-sac on Via Del Alba. (Id. ¶ 28.) Around January 15, 2015, the Newlins entered into escrow with Bassim Hamadeh, Seidy Hamadeh and the Ravello Trust (collectively “Hamadeh plaintiffs”) for the sale of the Property. (Id. ¶ 9.) On February 24, 2017, the Hamadeh plaintiffs filed a complaint in San Diego Superior Court against the Newlins and others for negligent misrepresentation, negligence and breach of contract. (Id. ¶ 10.) On October 12, 2017, the Hamadeh plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint adding claims for fraud by concealment, intentional misrepresentation, negligence per se under California Business & Professions Code section 7028 et seq., fraudulent inducement and negligence per se under California Civil Code section 1102 et seq. (Id.) The Hamadeh Litigation arose from the Newlins’ alleged intentional/negligent misrepresentation and/or concealment relied upon by the Hamadeh plaintiffs when they purchased the property concerning alleged defects with the modification and remodel work performed by the Newlins and/or on behalf of the Newlins. (Id.) AIG issued a homeowner policy to the Newlins for the policy period, November 29, 2014 to November 29, 2015, which provided liability coverage, including defense, for qualifying

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